Watching Penny DYE!

Okay folks, we are watching Penny DYE, not DIE!

Us fellow hand dyers always have this joke about

watching someone dye--and if you don't know what

we are really talking about

You could get upset,

but this is

what we do................

 

 

We heat a big pot of water, add our fiber and then the dye

Penny was dyeing these huge spools of wool that had been spun around a core fiber.

These yarns will be used for rugs--luscious rugs to walk on!

The color has been taken in by the yarn and now to the rinse bucket

and Penny unwinds and unwinds

Does she like the color all the way through?

or does it go back into the dye pot wound the

other way?

 

Just perfect!

And Penny is all smiles with your colorful yarn

Now, to lay it out to dry--so may D words!

We all agreed, we liked this variegated look on the fiber

Now, I'm anxious to see her finished rugs!

Once finished in the dye shop, we must head into the studio to see what's on her loom

Fabulous!  I'm thinking this is for a swatch swap--shhhhh!

Liking this!  Penny owns Skyloom Weavers.  Visit her sometime--because you'll be in for a treat!

WOW Finished Linen Projects

WOW (Way Out West) Weavers met in early May to discuss their year long study of linen.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend.

Luckily, we have good scribes and these photos and info was sent to me

by Gerry W.

Thanks Gerry--photos are great!

 

 

This is Tracy's sample-- double weave with basketweave interlacements

Her main project is a table square

Marian wove a plain weave with warp floats inspired by a Dimity pattern (plain weave with cords) from the 2013 Cross Country Weavers swatch collection inspired by Architecture.  She used linen warp and nubby silk weft.  Her hubby made a clever wooden hanger for the wall piece

 Gretchen wove several runners on the same warp and came up with several variations using different linen wefts. 

How lovely these are! 

 

Karen I. Wove a delicate narrow Inkle band with 16/1  multi-colored linen warps and 16/1 unbleached linen weft.

D'Anne wove a 4-shaft Goose Eye Twill with 16/2 natural and black linen.  She states, "I wanted to learn to love linen, but I didn't!"   She also can't see any of her children ironing linen!  

Gerry used a draft from the 2013 Cross Country Weavers Architecture inspired swatches.  The motif is an angled "brick" shape in Huck Lace, using 16/2 tan warp from Bockens and 20/1 half bleached linen weft (Bockens). 

 

Gerry is definitely an over achiever--she had these samples using different fibers!

And here is our gifts for the Texas Conference raffle basket.  I think we came up with a super basket once again! 

Linen Projects

I struggled with this study group project.  I'm not a big fan of linen, that's for sure, but once in--all in!

I was working with

This linen warp and using

handspun cotton/silk blend for weft, but somehow, I just couldn't get interested in making a finished project with this cloth--it will be saved for a rainy day.

Then I went on to weave on this linen warp, using handspun paper for weft

This is washi linen paper, which was cut into strips and then spun to be used as weft

Now, this I could really get my head around--

a photo of my finished project,

a heart shaped potholder.  I used hand dyed indigo cloth as my lining

and binding.

I also have this cone of washi spun paper ready for another time

Finely spun paper that can be used for weft.  I'm thinking I might ply this at least 4x to get a nice strong warp.  We'll see.

At least, the project is finished and we move onto the next study--wonder what it will be?  Not linen, that's for sure!  Been there, done that!!

Holy Smokes! I Did It!

 

I finished April's pattern for the Beaded Year long scarf project!!  I'm so excited--

 

Yes, this is an interesting pattern for April and I enjoyed working it up with my handspun wool/silk blend.  Then I looked at the Ravelry group and realized that THIS MONTH is MAY!

so, once again--I'm behind a month!

Here is May's pattern--there are still some days left==But, guess what==I finished before the end of MAY!! Sometimes I amaze myself!

 

 

HORSESHOE LACE PATTERN (multiple of 10 + 1): 64 beads and 47 sts total on the needle.

NOTE FOR PLACING BEADS: you will be placing beads on the ‘Slip one, K2TOG, psso’ stitches. Place the bead in the K2TOG stitch and be sure that the slipped stitch is passed over the K2TOG stitch AND the bead. This will anchor the bead in place. You will need 64 beads for this pattern section. If you have strung your beads onto your yarn before beginning, detailed instructions for how to insert the beads can be found in Post #617.
NOTE: There are two versions of the pattern. Be sure to mark the version you are working on.
Non-Beaded Version:
Row 1: K1, +YO, K3, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, K3, YO, K1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: P1, +K1, YO, K2, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, K2, YO, K1, P1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 4: P1, +P9, K1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 5: P1, +K2, YO, K1, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, K1, YO, K2, P1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 6: P1, +P9, K1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 7: P1, +K3, YO, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, YO, K3, P1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 8: Purl.
Rep the above eight rows 3 more times (4 times total), then knit six rows of garter stitch (knit every row). (47 sts.)
Beaded Version:
Row 1: K1, +YO, K3, (B)Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, K3, YO, K1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: P1, +K1, YO, K2, (B)Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, K2, YO, K1, P1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 4: P1, +P9, K1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 5: P1, +K2, YO, K1, (B)Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, K1, YO, K2, P1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 6: P1, +P9, K1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 7: P1, +K3, YO, (B)Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, YO, K3, P1; rep from + to EOR.
Row 8: Purl.
Rep the above eight rows 3 more times (4 times total), then knit six rows of garter stitch (knit every row). (47 sts.)

Happy Day!

It is a happy Day when we can celebrate the birth of our Grandson--Josh!  Today is his special day--HE is definitely a fine young man. 

Some say he looks as handsome as a movie star!

He is truly a cowboy!  He volunteers on a Houston Rodeo committee every year!

He loves his horses--Joe and Scout!

and

He loves his truck!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!

Happy Anniversary to US!

Today is our 52nd wedding anniversary!  How will we celebrate another special day in our lives?

We will always remember our 50th! when we went to Las Vegas to renew our vows at Graceland Chapel--how can we ever top that celebration? 

We actually MET ELVIS!!

 

But, this year we will be low key

and just

enjoy a

beer themed dinner at our favorite brewery at their farm to table evening.

Happy 52 to us

and

many more!

Lavender!

I love May because the lavender is in full bloom!  How can one resist the lovely purple shades and the nice light fragrance?

The Lavender Flower

by Lady Lindsay

"Lavender grey, lavender blue,

Perfume wrapt in the sky's own hue;

Lavender blue, lavender grey,

Love in Memory lives away.

Lavender grey, lavender blue,

Sweet is remembrance if love be true;

Lavender blue, lavender grey,

Sweeter, methinks, is the love of to-day"

This field of lavender grows by Senanque Abbey in Provence, France, for which Provence lavender is named.

Lavender serves as a landscape item for its beauty and ability to stand heat and drought--it is such a lovely addition to this garden

Drying is easy--cut, tie and hang to dry!

Have you ever cooked with lavender?

Well, here is a sweet recipe for a hot summer day that will refresh your palate!

Lavender-Infused Sangria (by Chef Sibby Barrett of Onion Creek Kitchen)

Yield 1.5 quarts

l large orange, sliced

l sliced lime

1sliced lemon

Lavender syrup (recipe follows)

1/4 cup good quality brandy

1 bottle red wine

1 bottle club soda or ginger ale

Lavender Syrup Recipe:  1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 2 Tablespoons of dried culinary lavender buds--bring water and sugar to a boil and stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat, add lavender buds.  Cover and allow syrup to stand for one hour.  Strain into glass container, cover and keep refrigerated for up to a few weeks.

to make Sangria:  In large glass pitcher, combine fruit slices; add brandy, Lavender syrup and wine.  Stir to blend well.  Refrigerate until well chilled about 2 hours or so.  When ready to serve, fill wine glasses with ice and fill glasses 1/2 to 2/3 full of sangria mixture.  top with desired amount of club soda or ginger ale.  Add fruit slices to glasses and enjoy!

There are many ways to enjoy lavender in food dishes--it's just not to look at and smell!